The effect of vagotomy on the human gastrooesophageal sphincter.

There have been reports of oesophageal reflux following operations performed for peptic ulcer (Clarke, Penry, and Ward, 1965; Windsor, 1964). Reflux has been noted after partial gastrectomy (Windsor, 1964) and also after vagotomy plus a gastric drainage procedure (Clarke et al, 1965). The operation of vagotomy plus gastric drainage could cause reflux oesophagitis to occur either through direct damage to the gastrooesophageal sphincter and phrenooesophageal ligament or indirectly by its effects upon the stomach, eg, by causing gastric retention. In this study, the possibility that vagotomy (plus a drainage procedure) performed for duodenal ulcer might damage the gastrooesophageal sphincter was investigated. The study also yielded additional information concerning the influence of the abdominal vagus nerves on the maintenance and control of gastrooesophageal sphincter pressures in man.